New Zealand. The land of birds, reptiles, invertebrates and introduced mammals... And the land of the bicycle. From road biking to the best downhill in all the Southern hemisphere, NZ has a lot to offer.
We bagan in the North Island. Auckland was of a peaceful little city. The downtown seemed as a much smaller and less crowded Sydney, even having a bridge and a ferry system. The weather was far more cooler then the neighboring Australia and the pace of the city was slower. After venturing about the town and taking a swim in the ocean without dangerous creatures, a mexican restaurant was calling our names. After a burrito and a Margurita, flashbacks to California filled my heart and I longed for a friend filled adventure through the forest of NorCal ending with a sweet Burrito...
We bagan in the North Island. Auckland was of a peaceful little city. The downtown seemed as a much smaller and less crowded Sydney, even having a bridge and a ferry system. The weather was far more cooler then the neighboring Australia and the pace of the city was slower. After venturing about the town and taking a swim in the ocean without dangerous creatures, a mexican restaurant was calling our names. After a burrito and a Margurita, flashbacks to California filled my heart and I longed for a friend filled adventure through the forest of NorCal ending with a sweet Burrito...
Venture through the north island
Am I in Humboldt County along the 299 or am I in New Zealand...
The firt MTB stop was Rotorua which was amazing!!! The trail network is endless and offers something for everyone; from green trails to a Huckleberry Hound offering some 45 jumps. There certainly is a reason they have Crankworx here every year. There were a few Redwood trees about however, this was nothing compared to the native Redwood forests of Humboldt County.
That evening we rocked up to a brewery where we camped considering they had an arce of land for camping. We walked into the brewery to a live band playing who were similar in appearance, music and vibe as something straight out of Humboldt County. It all became too real with Lauganitus and Sierra Nevada on tap AND the same Gunniess poster from the Abili in Arcata. It even smelt like the Alibi. As the band continued to play, one IPA turned to two, then three, then four, followed by a few suddle tears. I faced the fact that part of my heart was left behind in Humboldt and not matter how I filled my time with school and kangoroos, that void would never be filled... not a bad thing... just illustrates how much my bike community filled a broken part of my heart when I rocked up to Humboldt in the first place...
Beside the brewskis, the North Island was remarkably similar to Northern California from San Francisco to Humboldt County; rolling hills, forests, cool weather, mexican restaurants and brewerys... felt like home.
Beside the brewskis, the North Island was remarkably similar to Northern California from San Francisco to Humboldt County; rolling hills, forests, cool weather, mexican restaurants and brewerys... felt like home.
We took a short ferry ride to the South Island. Out first MTB stop was Nelson which was amazing. We only spent a bit of time here and the trails were mostly closed due to fire danger. We made our way down the West Coast along with many other camper vans in search of fish, waves and the occasional trail (Big Wave Dave was bound to catch a fish!)
More pictures along the coast as we made or way to Queenstown and Te Anau.
We attempted to make our way to Milford Sound however, due to flooding a month earlier, the roads were closed and some completely destroyed. As a result, we spent most out last bit of time in Queenstown and riding surronding areas.
Although there are not tons of pictures of riding, we still rode quite a bit considering sharing a van with the Dilzy fam. All the more reason to visit and experience the trails as you please. Here are a few places we rode with a smidgen of an opinion... which always varies based on the rider...
North Island:
Rotorua: Fun for everyone, endless trails, redwood trees (felt like home!). Also world famous and home to CrankWorx. Go here!!!
Wairoa: Small park with build trails that seem to not get ridden too often. If camping here, good for an evening ride.
Wellington: Epic views! Only rode briefly on fire trail... but it was RAD. There are more trails but we did not have the chance to ride.
South Island:
Nelson: Quick rip. Based on short experience: fun, built trails. Loose dirt. Take this experience with a grain of salt.
Cable Bay: Newly, hand dug trails which were raw, loose, steep, shally, technical and tight between the trees. Hike-a-bike for 1/3 of the climb or you can shuttle. If you like raw trail that keeps your technical skills up to speed, go here. Loved it. Go here!!!
The Gorge: ??? Mystery trails. Weekend cancelled due to fire danger.
Cape Wanbrow at Oamaru: easy, fun trails perfect for an AM ride... convenient after viewing Blue Penguins the previous night!
Queenstown Skyline: Park trails. Far beyond my skills. Love Whistler? This place and surrounding trails are calling your name. Go here!!!
Cardrona: Flow trails- loose on the top of a giant, treeless mountain. Location of Rude Rock and the famous Rude Rock trail (Go here!!!) Super fun trail and particularly felt like I was on top of the world with the views.
Christchurch: family fun adventure park with endless flow trails. Lift accessible.
Sticky forest - Wanaka: short, sweet trails of all kinds with entertaining climbs. Go here!!!
Huge hugs and thanks to Dilzy and his mum and dad for making this far more luxurious than I ever imagined with a camper van, touristy stuff like the Hobbiton, and the occasional hotel and restaurant meals. Otherwise, it would have been a classic, dirt bag, mountain bike adventure. :D
North Island:
Rotorua: Fun for everyone, endless trails, redwood trees (felt like home!). Also world famous and home to CrankWorx. Go here!!!
Wairoa: Small park with build trails that seem to not get ridden too often. If camping here, good for an evening ride.
Wellington: Epic views! Only rode briefly on fire trail... but it was RAD. There are more trails but we did not have the chance to ride.
South Island:
Nelson: Quick rip. Based on short experience: fun, built trails. Loose dirt. Take this experience with a grain of salt.
Cable Bay: Newly, hand dug trails which were raw, loose, steep, shally, technical and tight between the trees. Hike-a-bike for 1/3 of the climb or you can shuttle. If you like raw trail that keeps your technical skills up to speed, go here. Loved it. Go here!!!
The Gorge: ??? Mystery trails. Weekend cancelled due to fire danger.
Cape Wanbrow at Oamaru: easy, fun trails perfect for an AM ride... convenient after viewing Blue Penguins the previous night!
Queenstown Skyline: Park trails. Far beyond my skills. Love Whistler? This place and surrounding trails are calling your name. Go here!!!
Cardrona: Flow trails- loose on the top of a giant, treeless mountain. Location of Rude Rock and the famous Rude Rock trail (Go here!!!) Super fun trail and particularly felt like I was on top of the world with the views.
Christchurch: family fun adventure park with endless flow trails. Lift accessible.
Sticky forest - Wanaka: short, sweet trails of all kinds with entertaining climbs. Go here!!!
Huge hugs and thanks to Dilzy and his mum and dad for making this far more luxurious than I ever imagined with a camper van, touristy stuff like the Hobbiton, and the occasional hotel and restaurant meals. Otherwise, it would have been a classic, dirt bag, mountain bike adventure. :D
The Birding!
Traveling in the back of a van along winding roads with a billizon other camper vans required a bit of self entertainment. Considering there are mostly birds and sheep on this island, birding became my new hobby. I convinced driver Dilzy to meander off track to a small town of Okarito in efforts to spot a bird: the Royal Spoonbill. With 99% confidence I would not see these beautiful birds that looked like something from Alice in Wonderland, we pulled up next to the lagoon and spotted the three amigos from a distance. Without means of crossing the waters to get a closer look, the zoom lens had to do. I certainly felt exceptionally lucky at that moment in time!
As we carried on with out adventure, we saw a number of other birds including the Blue Penguins at the Blue Penguin Colongy in Oamaru. Although I spend quite a bit of time hiking around to see a kiwi, my efforts failed and I did not get to see the most famous NZ bird of all...
As we carried on with out adventure, we saw a number of other birds including the Blue Penguins at the Blue Penguin Colongy in Oamaru. Although I spend quite a bit of time hiking around to see a kiwi, my efforts failed and I did not get to see the most famous NZ bird of all...
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and would like to take an MTB trip to NZ! If the Southern Hemisphere is a bit too far based on where you are, just rock up to Humboldt County. It's pretty much an unknown gem with native redwoods.